Highway crews and flagmen working on the widening of California 138 across the Mojave Desert have taken so much physical abuse from motorists that the stretch between Lancaster and Victorville will now be closed until September so workers can do their job safely. Two workers have been hit by cars, a third was shot with a BB gun — and at least one has been hit with a tossed burrito. Caltrans consultant Dennis Green:

People here are not used to having congestion like they had in Los Angeles. It's here now, and they're having to learn how to cope with it.

One irate driver threatened to climb a water tower and shoot workers with a high-powered rifle.